Good Energy Requested

I really, really want to run back to the mountains.

I came off a wonderful, relaxing, romantic vacation into a challenging class taught by a pompous, arrogant, elitist, negative instructor. When he's actually teaching the class material, he's not bad -- but his editorializing and attitude are really wearing. The fact that his favorite topics for bashing are two of the three fields in which my father has done his professional work does not make it easier, even though nothing this jerk says actually relates directly to my father.

Then there are the group exercises, which are actually very valuable as learning experiences, but very challenging on several levels -- including emotional ones -- for me, due to my own personality quirks.

Finally, there's some offline drama going on a long way away that I'm emotionally invested in even though I'm primarily an observer at this point, and that's taking its toll as well.

Oh yes, and my to-work commute today is likely going to be harder than usual due to some problems with a broken water main.

The good news is that everything should be resolved by noon today: the class over, and the drama reaching its climax in a courtroom.

If anyone has positive and grounding energy to send me today, I could sure use an infusion.

Getting Better

Class is over. I only missed one question on the test -- and no one got them all right -- so that stress has been replaced by a sense of accomplishment. The instructor was also more focused on teaching today, not editorializing, and there were no in-depth group activities, so my emotional equilibrium wasn't under pressure.

No word from the courtroom yet, but I'm feeling more resilient.

Many heartfelt thanks to everyone who wrote and sent good wishes and positive energy. I'm certain that I'm feeling the effects.

In Which I Suddenly Enter a New Phase of Parenthood

I just got home from work and brought my computer out of stand-by mode. A browser window was open to an unfamiliar page. I scanned the screen and found that it was fanfic about an anime series my eleven year-old daughter likes.

It was rated "T - for teen, not suitable for readers under 13."

( A few mature references and my ponderings )

The question, I suppose, is this: what does my daughter think about this stuff, especially the page of fanfic I just read? Is she already encountering images and situations like this in her other reading? What does she think and feel when she reads it?

I can speculate and agonize all I want -- but the best course is to sit down and talk with her.